Improvement in spring-beds



0. c. CAMPBELL.

= r Spri ng-Beds.

No. 137,287. Patented April 1, 1873.

AM PH oro-umnammm m N x (Mao/MES P'Ra 058s) vated and retained in position.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIGE;

OLIVER O. CAMPBELL, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRING-BEDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,287, dated April 1, 1873; appli at'on filed February 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OLIVER OARLISLE CAMPBELL, of the city of Omaha, county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Beds; and do hereby declare the fol lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of my improved spring-bed. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the means by which the head is ele- Fig. 3 is a side View representing the headraised, and showing the position of the springs and con; nectinghnks.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures.

This invention relates to that class of sprin gbeds in which the requisite elasticity is secured by using coils of wire connected together by suitable links; and it consists in the method of arranging and combining the springs so as to retain the necessary tension when one end of the bed is elevated; also, in various details of construction, as will be here after fully set forth.

A is the sustaining-frame of the bed, which is constructed of two side pieces having sufficient stiffness to withstand the strain of the springs, and two end pieces to which the springs a are attached. B represents a portion of the frame constructed in such a manner as to allow one end to be raised to a limited extent, if desired, the other being secured to the main frame by the hinges k. Across the bottom of the frame, and near the end which is intended for the head of the bed, is

secured a bearer, O, to which the springs c are attached, and which forms their support. The upper surface of the bed, as represented in Fig. 1, consists of three series of coiledwire springs, a a a, two of which are attached, by suitable means, to the opposite ends of the 7 frame, and are connected with a central series,

and with each other, by the links b b b, which are also formed of Wire. An additional series of connecting-links may be placed between the central series of springs a, if desired which would prevent any tendency to undue spreading laterally; but if the connecting links are made of wire as stiff as that in ordinary use for spirally-coiled bed-springs they are not needed. It will be seen that the point of intersection of the links which connect that series of coiled springs near the head with those in the center of the bed are nearly on a line with the hinges which connect the part B of the frame with the main frame A. At this point is attached one end of the springs c, the other being secured to the bearer C. These springs not only assist in supporting the bed at this point, where it is liable to the greatest strain, but act as a tie to retain the bed in its proper shape when the head is elevated, and also maintains the necessary tension of the springs a. A spring-catch, m, is attached to the part B of the frame, which, when the surface of the bed is to beretained in a horizontal plane, catches upon a plate secured to the main frame A, and holds the frame B in the required position. I

To elevate the head, a cord, (1, which is fastened to the catch m, is pulled. This releases the catch, when the tension of the springs a will raise up this end of the bed until it is checked by the plates 0, which are secured to the frame B, coming in contact with the stoppins or, or by the pawls f entering one of the serrations in the end of the plates. The pawls f slide longitudinally in brackets attached to the inside of the frame a, and are made to enter the serrations in the end of the plates 0 by the springs a. When it is desired to return the bed to a horizontal position the pawls are withdrawn by means of the cord g, which passes through the orifices p in the sides of the frame, and is attached at each end to one of the pawls, when a small amount of pressure upon the head of the bed will force it down until it is caught and retained by the catch on. A brace may be arranged to assist the springs in retaining the frame B at'any desired angle to the frame A, but so far it has not been necessary to use it, as the springs a have been found to be fully capable of retaining the frame B at the desired elevation.

The same arrangement of springs may be used without making a part of the frame adjustable, if desired, and will be found to produce a bed possessing many excellent qualities. As the springs are not attached in any way to the sidesof the frame they each have an individual action, to a certain extent uncontrolled by the others, which experience has shown to be absolutely necessary in order to produce a good bed of the class to which this invention is'allied. The auxiliary support furnished by the springs 0 will also be found to be of great advantage, as it enables the bed to present the greatest amount of resistance at the point where it is most needed; but these may be dispensed with, if desired.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim I the following:

1. The combination of the springs a and connecting-links b with the auxiliary springs c, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The frame'A provided with the adjust able part B, in combination with the springs a and c and their connections, substantially as set forth.

3. The frame B provided with the serrated plates 0, in combination with the sliding pawls f, springs a, and cord g, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The coiled springs a, connecting-links b, and frame A, in combination with the springs c, the adjustable part B, and its operating devices, as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 24th day of February, 1873.

0. C. CAMPBELL.

Witnesses:

M. T. E. CHANDLER, (J. D. IRELAN. 

